Apparatus for baling fibers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for baling staple fibers, wherein the fibers are held up in a chute above a bale press box while a tamper compresses layers of fiber already in the box. When the tamper is raised, staple fibers drop from the chute and are subjected to horizontally directed fluid forces which distribute the added fibers in a uniform layer in the box. The resulting bales have relatively uniform dimensions, even density throughout and increased overall weight.

United States Patent [191 ONeill APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS [75]Inventor: Joseph Thomas ONeill, Brockville, Ontario, Canada [73]Assignee: Du Pont of Canada, Limited,

Montreal, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:152,724

[52] US. Cl. 100/215, 100/220 [51] Int. Cl Bb 15/30 [58] Field of Search100/35, 215, 220,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Van Doorn et al /90 Oct. 16,1973 3,025,785 3/1962 Deems 100/90 2,488,395 11/1949 Goldberg 100/90 UX862,231 8/1907 Bates 100/90 UX Primary Examiner-Billy J. WilhiteAttorney-J. R. McGrath [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for baling staplefibers, wherein the fibers are held up in a chute above a bale press boxwhile a tamper compresses layers of fiber already in the box. When thetamper is raised, staple fibers drop from the chute and are subjected tohorizontally directed fluid forces which distribute the added fibers ina uniform layer in the box. The resulting bales have relatively uniformdimensions, even density throughout and increased overall weight.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures FATENTED BET 16 M5 SHEETIUFZ FIG. I

PATENTEDUBI 16 I973 SHEET 20F 2 FIG. 2

This invention relates generally to an improved apparatus for balingstaple fibers to obtain bales having relatively uniform dimensions, evendensity throughout and increased overall weight.

In a known apparatus for producing man-made staple fibers, continuousfilaments are crimped, then cut to staple length and the staple fibersso produced are conveyed by an air stream to a cyclone separator mountedabove a bale press box. The air is separated from the staple fibers inthe cyclone and the fibers drop down a chute to a lift gate above thebale press box. A hydraulic ram or tamper in the bale press box israised and this action opens the gate allowing staple fibers to fallinto the bale press box. The staple fibers fall out of the chute intothe bale press box. In some instances, they do not fall into the box ina uniformly distributed'pattern but tend to accumulate onthe chute sideof the box. The lift gate closes as the tamper comes'down and exerts apressure on the staple fibersto compress theminto a layer. If there isan uneven distribution of the staple fibers throughout each layer, abuild-up occurs on one side and uneven bale formation occurs.

Such uneven bale formation can cause a number of problems. For instance,it contributes to an uneven pressure on the tamper and the resultingunbalanced forces may cause twist or distortion in the baler frame. Italso causes uneven pressures on catches provided at the top of the balepress box to stop the layers of fibers springing back upwhen the tamperlifts. Furthermore, the press table supportingthe bale press box may besubjected to uneven pressures thus causing the table to twist ordistort. Another problem may be causedby uneven tensions in the wire orstrapping which holds the bale together. Also, the bale itself whenfinished is not rectangular or square in shape and, furthermore, thebales are not consistent in weight from one to the other. The baleinstead of having relatively flat surfaces, as is desired, may oftenhave one or more surfaces which bulge in the middle or which bulge orprotrude more on one end than the other. This may result infurtherproblems when the bales are stacked.

The difficulties noted above have been overcome by subjecting fibers tofluid flowing substantially horizontally across their downward path to abale box so as to spread the fibers uniformly in successive layers. Theimproved apparatus includes a bale press box, a chute mounted above andto one side of the bale press box for directing a flow of fibers into,the box, a lift gate at the end of the chute, a tamper located abovethe bale press box, means for lowering and raising the tamperat'predetermined time intervals to compress layers of fibers inthe balepress box, means for raising the lift gate in conjunction with thetamper,.and a perforated duct located below the end of the chute andabove the bale press box for ejecting fluid streams horizontally acrossthe top of the bale press box when the lift gate is in the raisedposition and thereby directing the flow of fibers to a uniform layer inthe bale press box.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing oneembodiment of apparatus for conveying staple fibers to a bale press box,and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic and partly in section,of the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a bale press box 10 is shown 1 located beneatha cyclone separator l 1. Staple fibers A are conveyed in a fluid medium,preferably air, through a pipe 12. The fibers pass through a venturi 13where air from a fan or blower is supplied through a control valve 14.The air is blown into the venturi l3 and produces a negative pressure inpipe 12. This negative pressure pulls the staple fibers into theventuri, whence the air blows the fibers through a rectangular duct 15and into the cyclone separator 11. In the cyclone separator 11, the airand staple fibers are separated, the air passing out through top andside air escapes 16, 17 in the cyclone separator 11. The fibers dropspirally into a chute 18 where they are directed in a downward path fromits lower end 19 into the bale press box 10. The evenness of the flow offibers across the chute lip 20 may be controlled by the air supplycontrol valve 14. By varying the air flow, the number of spiral turnsthe fibers make before descending to the end of the chute may be variedand the optimum air flow determined. Just beneath and substantiallyparallel to the chute lip 20 is an air duct 21. This air duct 21 hasholes 22, spaced evenly apart along the duct, the holes 22 pointing in ahorizontal direction across the top of the bale press box 10. Asillustrated, lip 20, duct 21 and an upper edge of box 10 are insubstantial parallelism. Whereas holes 22 are shown in the duct 21 inthe present embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat these holes could be replaced with a slit or section of sintered orporous metal. The important point is that the staple fibers aresubjected to fluid flowing substantially horizontally across their pathto spread them evenly in the bale press box. Preferably, the fluid is aplurality of streams of air emanating from holes 22 in duct 21.

The baling apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes the bale press box 10, thechute 18 having its open end 19 and lip 20 above one side of the balepress box 10, and the air duct 21 located below and parallel to thechute lip 20 just above the bale press box 10. A tamper 23 is raised andlowered on a shaft 24 of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 40 andcompresses the staple fibers B accumulated in the bale press box 10. Alift gate 25 is located over the end 19 of the chute 18. This lift gate25 has a lug 26 which extends into the path of the tamper 23. Thus, whenthe tamper 23 is raised, it contacts lug 26 and opens the lift gate 25.When the tamper 23 is lowered, the lift gate 25 falls with the downstroke of the tamper until, in the closed position, it rests on thechute lip 20.

At the top 27 of the tamper shaft 24 is a cam 28 on an extension arm 29.As the shaft 24 raises the tamper 23, the end 27 of the tamper shaft24raises the cam 28 and the extension arm 29 operates a valve 30. Thisvalve 30 opens and allows a blast of compressed air to pass through aconduit 31 to the duct 21 and out through the holes 22 across the opentop of the bale press box 10.

Catches or dogs 32 are located on two opposing sides of the bale pressbox 10. These catches are L-shaped and have a pivot point 33 justoutside the box 10. A counterweight 34 supported on arm 35 holds thecatches 32 with one segment of the catch extending horizontally acrossthe bale press box 110. When the catches are in the open position, thissegment of the catch is retained in a slot 36 in the sides of the balepress box 10.

In operation, staple fibers A are conveyed into the cyclone separator 11by the fluid stream in duct 15. The flow may be varied according to themeans of feeding the staple fibers .into the conveying system. Thefibers separate from the air in the cyclone 11, the air escaping throughtop and side air outlets 16, 17 and the fibers drop spirally down thechute 18. Some adjustment is necessary to the air supply control valve14 to ensure that the fibers are evenly distributed across the chute lip20. The fibers come to rest against the lift gate 25 which normallycloses the open end 19 of the chute 18. As the tamper 23 risesperiodically, it contacts the lug 26 and raises the lift gate 25. At apredetermined time, the end 27 of the tamper shaft 24 contacts the cam28 and the extension arm 29 rotates, opening the valve 30. Compressedair passes through the valve 30, the conduit 31 and the duct 21 andflows out in jets or streams through the holes 22 equally spaced anddirected across the open top of the bale press box 10. The staple fibersfall from and are directed in a downward path by the end 19 of the chute18 into the streams of air flowing from the holes 22 in the duct 21.Some fibers fall directly and others are carried across bale press boxso that an even layer of fibers is formed in the box. It is found thatthe flow and pressure of air from the holes 22 in the duct 21 are notcritical, although too high a pressure and too high a flow will causeturbulence and will not form an even blanket or even layer across thesurface of the bale press box. A guard 37 mounted on the opposite sideof the bale press box from the chute 18 stops the staple fibers frombeing blown beyond the bale press box. After a predetermined lag time,the tamper 23 commences to lower responsive to the action of cylinder40. The cam 28 follows the shaft end 27 and the air valve 30 closes.Also, the lug 26 resting on the tamper 23 follows the tamper 23 and thelift gate 25 lowers until it rests on the lip closing the end 19 of thechute 18. The tamper 23 then continues downwards, pushes the horizontalsegment of the catches 32 downwards and into the slots 36 and compressesthe staple fibers B in the bale press box 10. At the same time, morestaple fibers fall from the cyclone separator 11 and accumulate in thechute 18 behind the lift gate 25. The tamper 23 then commences to raiseand the counterweights 34 force the catches 32 to follow the tamper 23until one segment is horizontal. These catches hold the pressure on thelayers of fibers as they accumulate and stop the fibers rising up in thebale press box 10. The process is then repeated until the depth of thelayers in press box 10 is such that a laterally extending arm 38 onshaft 24 does not reach a limit switch 39 (FIG. 2). At that time, a bellrings to warn the operator and tamper 23 comes to rest just above pressbox 10.

EXAMPLE An air duct was installed on a feed system for a baling devicesimilar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The duct consisted of a copperline as inch in diameter with VB inch holes spaced approximately 2inches apart. The duct was installed below the lip of the chute with theholes positioned to direct streams of air across the top of the balepress box. The air control valve was adjusted so the streams of air fromthe duct commenced to flow when the lift gate had exposed about 12inches of the end of the chute. Some adjustments were necessary toensure the flow of air through the duct was optimum for obtaining aneven layer of Orlon acrylic fibers in the bale press box. The fibers hadpreviously been crimped in a stuffer box and cut to a nominal length of1% inches. Flow of air to the venturi in the staple fiber conveying pipewas adjusted to ensure an even distribution of staple fibers across theface of the chute.

Bales having even density throughout and relatively flat sides wereproduced on this system and it was found that bales weighing 650 i 50pounds could be obtained. Without this improvement, it had only beenpossible to produce uniform bales weighing up to 480 i 50 pounds. Withan even bale, it was found that the catches, provided at the top of thebale press box to stop the fibers springing back up, all receivedcomparatively even loads whereas, without this system, higher loadsoccurred on the catches on the same side as the chute and these catchessometimes broke off. Ease was also experienced in tying the full baleswith link wires, as it was found that the tensions in all the wires wereapproximately the same. It was also found that the resulting squarebales were easier to stack as compared to the previous uneven baleswhich often formed a crooked stack.

What is claimed is: 1. In a baling apparatus including a bale press box,a chute mounted above and to one side of the bale press box fordirecting staple fibers into the box, a lift gate at the end of thechute, a tamper located above the bale press box, means for lowering andraising the tamper to compress layers of fibers in the bale press box,and means for raising the lift gate in conjunction with upward movementof the tamper, the improvement comprising:

a duct located below and substantially parallel to the end of the chute,above the bale press box, and

means for ejecting a plurality of fluid streams from the ducthorizontally across the top of the bale press box in conjunction withupward movement of the tamper, whereby to direct the flow of fibers tofall in a uniform layer in the bale press box.

2. In a baling apparatus including a bale press box, a chute mountedabove and to one side of the bale press box for directing staple fibersinto the box, a tamper located above the bale press box, means forlowering and raising the tamper at predetermined time intervals tocompress layers of fibers in the bale press box, and a lift gate at theend of the chute adapted to open the chute and allow a flow of fibersinto the box in conjunction with the raising of the tamper, theimprovement comprising:

a duct located below and substantially parallel to the end of the chuteabove the bale press box, said duct having a plurality of holes directedhorizontally across the box, and

valve means adapted to be opened in conjunction with the raising of thetamper and whereby fluid is allowed to enter the duct, eject through theholes and spread the fibers in a uniform layer in the bale press box.

3. In a baling apparatus including a bale press box, a tamper movableinto and out of the box, a delivery chute with a lower lip and a liftgate movable to an open position in response to movement of the tamperout of the box, the improvement comprising provision of a perforatedduct above one side of the press box and a valved conduit for deliveringfluid to said duct when the gate is open, said duct being located belowand substantially parallel to said lip.

1. In a baling apparatus including a bale press box, a chute mountedabove and to one side of the bale press box for directing staple fibersinto the box, a lift gate at the end of the chute, a tamper locatedabove the bale press box, means for lowering and raising the tamper tocompress layers of fibers in the bale press box, and means for raisingthe lift gate in conjunction with upward movement of the tamper, theimprovement comprising: a duct located below and substantially parallelto the end of the chute, above the bale press box, and means forejecting a plurality of fluid streams from the duct horizontally acrossthe top of the bale press box in conjunction with upward movement of thetamper, whereby to direct the flow of fibers to fall in a uniform layerin the bale press box.
 2. In a baling apparatus including a bale pressbox, a chute mounted above and to one side of the bale press box fordirecting staple fibers into the box, a tamper located above the balepress box, means for lowering and raising the tamper at predeterminedtime intervals to compress layers of fibers in the bale press box, and alift gate at the end of the chute adapted to open the chute and allow aflow of fibers into the box in conjunction with the raising of thetamper, the improvement comprising: a duct located below andsubstantially parallel to the end of the chute above the bale press box,said duct having a plurality of holes directed horizontally across thebox, and valve means adapted to be opened in conjunction with theraising of the tamper and whereby fluid is allowed to enter the duct,eject through the holes and spread the fibers in a uniform layer in thebale press box.
 3. In a baling apparatus including a bale press box, atamper movable into and out of the box, a delivery chute with a lowerlip and a lift gate movable to an open position in response to movementof the tamper out of the box, the improvement comprising provision of aperforated duct above one side of the press box and a valved conduit fordelivering fluid to said duct when the gate is open, said duct beinglocated below and substantially parallel to said lip.